April (2009)

Contents

17 April 2009 - Uganda and South Africa Sign Bilateral S&T Agreement

Negotiations on a bilateral S&T agreement between South Africa and Uganda beginning in 2006 resulted in the signing of the agreement yesterday, according to South Africa's Department of Science and Technology. To read more visit the website of the DST - click here.

16 April 2009 - African Union Scientific Awards - Update

A revised version of the concept note for the awards as well as a revised application form are now available for download. For additional information on the awards visit the website of the African Union - click here.

15 April 2009 - Science and Technology Cooperation and Development workshop

The CAAST-Net Work Package 2 co-leaders - the Research Council of Norway (RCN) and the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology (UNCST) - are organising a two-day workshop for eminent Africa- and Europe-based scientists, policy makers and development practitioners, to be held in Kampala, Uganda on 23 and 24 April 2009. Its purpose is to discuss the contents of two CAAST-Net reports and to deliberate on their recommendations to achieve better synergy and dialogue between the S&T and development communities. The outcome of this important event will be a set of contributions to the ongoing EU-Africa dialogue on the interface between science and technology cooperation and development. For more information contact Arne Tostensen or Ismail Barugahara.

15 April 2009 - CAAST-Net Annual Assembly

The 2nd CAAST-Net Annual Assembly will take place in Marseille, France between 16 and 18 June 2009. The annual assemblies provide an opportunity for project partners to reflect on work done, as well as to plan and organise future events and workshops. Should you be interested in participating as a stakeholder, please contact the project coordinators.

15 April 2009 - Workshop on Health Research Under FP7

HEALTH-NCP-NET in conjunction with ESASTAP hosted an FP7 brokerage event at the Lord Charles Hotel in Cape Town, South Africa on 9 April. FP7 (the Seventh Framework Programme) is the European Union's €50 billion research and technological development platform spanning seven years from 2007-2013.

The event was attended by various members of the South African and the African health research communities, representatives from the European Commission, as well as partners in health research-related projects funded under either FP6 or FP7.

It was an opportunity for HEALTH-NCP-NET to draw attention to FP7, the opportunities for research collaboration in the health thematic priority area of the Cooperation Specific Programme, as well as the roles and responsibilities of National Contact Point networks in facilitating bi-regional research partnerships.

The day's proceedings were kicked off by Dr. Ole Olesen, the EC's Scientific Officer for Neglected Infectious Diseases in the Directorate for Health Research. Olesen provided a brief overview of the EC, FP7 and the structure of funding under its various programmes, as well as the nature of specific international cooperation actions (SICAs) (international research collaborations focused on a particular subject or focus area).

Olesen's presentation was followed by short presentations by Prof. Iqbal Parker of the International Centre for Genetic Engineer and Biotechnology and Dr. Sabine Steiner-Lange of the German Aerospace Center. Both highlighted the function and importance of NCP networks and the necessity of strengthening these networks. Africa currently has two networks - one based in South Africa and one in Egypt.

Steiner-Lange also emphasised the critical role of NCPs in communicating with local scientific communities in order to foster better participation in FP7 projects. NCPs are nominated by national governments and play an advisory role to potential and existing participants. They are also increasingly referred to as ICPC-CPs (Contact Points in International Cooperation Partner Countries).

The final presentation was delivered by Prof. Christian Doerig, who shared a number of personal experiences on his role as an FP project coordinator. Apart from the non-negotiable component of scientific excellence expected of all FP projects, Doerig stressed the value of strong human relationships amongst consortium members as one essential pre-requisite a successful project.

Activities also included discussion and networking.

CAAST-Net was represented in the closing address by Mabatho Ndwandwa of South Africa's Department of Science and Technology.

For more information on the outcomes of the workshop contact Dr. Sabine Steiner-Lange.

8 April 2009 - EU Parliament Adopts First Review of the Joint-Africa EU Strategy

On 24 March 2009, the European Union Parliament adopted its Commission's report on the implementation of the Joint Africa-EU Strategy, the Parliament's press office stated. The JAES was adopted at the second EU-Africa Summit in Lisbon in December 2007. For more information on the vote - click here.

Links
"One year after Lisbon: the Africa-EU Partnership at work".

6 April 2009 - EDCTP Announces Funds for TB Research

A call for proposals in tuberculosis diagnostics has been published by the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership. €8,000,000 in funds are available for the call. The deadline for applications is 24 July 2009. The purpose of this call is to develop simpler, cheaper and more accurate TB diagnostic tool(s). Participants in a proposal must be drawn from at least two publicly funded institutions from the EDCTP EEIG Member States and at least two sub-Saharan African institutions. Preference will be given to proposals where the project coordinator is a sub-Saharan African national based in Africa. Please note that clinical trials and activities outside of sub-Saharan Africa are outside the scope of EDCTP. For more details on this call and how to apply, please consult the EDCTP website - click here.